Identification device



I Sept. 5, 19 39. c, o, ROQSE v 2,171,713

IDENTIFICATION DEVICE Filed July 14. 195

24 3| I I7 4 33 8 3 I4 32 5 I 2. I I 4 INVENTOR. F196 CLYDE o. ROQSEPatented Sept. 5, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to an identification means for automobiles orother periodically licensed or registered vehicles or other articles,and particularly to a device for receiving and per- 5 manently securingidentification tags or plates, having identification indicia on oneface, to the vehicle or other articles, and is an improvement in thedevices disclosed and claimed in my United States Patent No, 2,098,432,issued November 9,

10 1937, and my co-pending application Serial No.

175,055, filed November 17, 1937.

The principal object of the present invention resides in the provisionof a simple, inexpensive device comprising a novel identification plateand 18 a receptacle for receiving the plate, the receptacle and platebeing arranged to cooperate in a novel manner for locking the platetherein consequent "upon insertion of the plate so that a plurality ofidentification plates, each having identification go indicia on one facethereof, may be inserted successively in the receptacle and, uponinsertion,

become secured therein against removal, with the last inserted platepositioned with its indicia exposed.

5 A further object of the invention is to provide a receptacle forpermanently securing a plurality of identification plates therein andwhich is permanently mounted on the vehicleor other article in such amanner as to facilitate a quick, convenient inspection of the indicia onthe last plate inserted in the receptacle for an accurate check of theproper identification of the license of the vehicle or other article.

Another object resides in the provision of a 35 device of this naturewhich may be conveniently and quickly mounted and attached to asupporting member without the use of special tools and which preventsthe subsequent removal of the device from the support after the firstplate has Q been inserted in the receptacle without breaking orotherwise destroying the identification plate.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this naturewhich will permit the easy insertion of identification plates and whichwill 4'5 cooperate with the plates for constraining movement of theplates when they lie wholly within the receptacle, thus eliminating anundesirable rattle or removal of the plate.

Other objects and advantages will become ap- 50 parent from thefollowing description, wherein reference is made to the drawing, inwhich:

Fig. l is an elevation of the device mounted'on a supporting panel;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along the line2-2 of Fig. 1, illustrating the manner in which the plates are securedin place within thereceptacle;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged top plan view of an identification plate beforethe indicia is inscribed thereon;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the device before attaching the receptaclethereto;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line55 of Fig. 1 and illustrating the manner in which a plurality of platesare secured in place within the receptacle; and

Fig. 6' is an enlarged sectional view similar to Fig. 2, illustratingthe method in which plates are inserted in the device.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the retaining device, generally indicated bythe numeral I, is shown as comprising a rectangular receptacle 2 havingside walls 3 and end walls 4 and 5. The top or Window wall 6 of thereceptacle is provided with an inspection opening 1 for revealing theindicia on the last identification plate inserted in the receptacle. Thereceptacle 2, which houses the identification plates and mechanism topermanently secure the plates to the device, and which will behereinafter described in detail, may be formed of a metallic substance,molded plastic, or molded plastic having a metallic insert or core.

For the purpose of illustration, the receptacle is shown formed of amolded plastic substance or material commonly known as Bakelite, teniteor the like, andmay be conveniently molded in a color to match orharmonize with the surface, such as the grained finished surface of adashboard of an automobile or other article, to which it is applied. 1

An enclosing or bottom plate 8 of the same material as the receptacle ispermanently secured to' the rectangular shaped receptacle 2,substantially flush with the side wall and end walls 4 and 5'thereof,thus providing a closed boxlike receptacle or container for receivingthe identification tags or plates. In the event that the receptacle 2 isformed of a metallic substance, the bottom plate 8 may be welded orotherwise conveniently secured to the receptacle 2. In the event thereceptacle is formed of a molded plastic material or a metallic corecovered with a plastic material, such as cellulose acetate or the like,the bottom plate may be secured thereto by an application of a solventof the material of the back plate and receptacle applied to thecontacting surfaces of the plate and receptacle.

The retaining device in its assembled condition is permanently mountedor secured to the supporting member 9 in any convenient manner,

such as by screws 10, which project through aligned openings in thebottom plate 8 and supporting member 9 and partly into the tappedopenings in the back plate l2. The threaded openings in the back plate I2 are preferably blind or .concealed from one side of the back plate sothat the screws I0 cannot be turned or otherwise tampered with from therear side of the supporting member or panel 9 to remove the device fromthe support.

Fixedly secured to the bottom plate 8 are a plurality or group of rigidlocking pins designated as M and I5, which project from the bot.

tom enclosing plate 8 to the inner surface of the top wall 6 of thereceptacle. The locking pins l4 and l 5 both terminate from the innersurface of the top wall 6 of the receptacle a distance at least equal tothe thickness of an identification plate to allow the insertion of asingle plate therebetween.

.In order to permit the insertion of the identification plate edgewiseinto the receptacle and parallel to the window with the indicia on theplate exposed toward the window, a slot I! is provided in the end wall 5of the receptacle below the top surfaceof the locking pins and the innersurface of the window wall 6 of the receptacle an amount greater thanthe thickness of a single identification plate. As illustrated in Fig.2, the identification plate when fully inserted in the device lies abovethe plane of the slot IT in the end wall 5 of the receptacle, andremoval of the plate from the receptacle is thus prevented, due to thefact that the plate cannot be aligned with the slot for removal withoutlooking apertures engaging the locking pin l4. The path of theidentification plate being inserted through the slot I! is normallyobstructed by the locking pin I4, which is of a larger diameter than thepin l5, for purposes later to be described.

Referring'to Figs. 2, 3 and. 6, the identification plates or tags 20 aremade of comparatively light gauge resilientv material and are providedwith looking apertures 2| and 22 which register with the locking pins l4and I5, respectively, for locking the plates within the receptacle whenthe 'plateis fully inserted in the receptacle. The diameter of the.aperture 22 on the leading end of the plate 26 is slightly less than thediameter ofthe pin l4 and of substantially the same diameter as the pinIE, to allow the plate to be passed over the pin l4 without registeringtherewith but allowing it to register and engage the pin l5 when theplate is fully inserted in the receptacle.

While the locking pin [4, which is nearest to the slot 11 .of thereceptacle 2, is illustrated as being of a larger dimension than thelocking pin i5 and of a circular cross section, it is be understood thatthe identification plates 20 may be inserted into the receptacle in theabove described manner if the locking pins are of a varied crosssection. For example, the locking pin I 4 may be of l a square shape incross section and the locking pin l5 of an octagon shape in crosssection. In this event, the leading aperture 22 of the identificationplate is of octagon shape and will be allowed to pass over the pin l4and into registry with the pin [5.

To prevent tampering or rattling of the plate in the receptacle,downwardly extending resiliently yieldable portions or fingers 23 and 24are provided on the identification plates. at the apertures 2I' and 22,respectively, to contact the pins M and 15, respectively, when the tagsare fully inserted-in the receptacle and will prevent movement of theplates toward the slot I! in the end wall of the receptacle.

To further prevent this lateral movement of the plate toward the slot,the identification plates 20 are provided with a plurality of openings25 and 26 which engage downwardly extending fingers 27 mounted on orintegral with the inner top surface 'of the receptacle.

The identification tag 20 is urged against the inner surface of the topwall 6 containing the inspection opening 1 by means of a spring member30 operating upon the bottom surface of the initially inserted plate.The spring member 30 has a central opening 3! and end slots 32 and 33.The end slots 32 and 33 enable the spring 30 to straddle the lockingpins l4 and I5 and be guided thereby and are of sufficient size toaccommodate the locking pins l4 and I5, respectively. The width of theslot 33 is of less dimension than the diameter of the pin I 4, but isslightly larger than the dimension of the pin l5 with which itregisters.

In assembling the device, the receptacle 2 may be secured to the bottomplate 8 having the rigid locking pins l4 and I5 mounted in place, asheretofore described, and then the spring member 30 is placed into theslot l1 and forced into position in the device. Due to the fact that theslot 33 of the spring 30 is of a smaller dimension than the pin I 4, itwill be allowed topass over the top of the locking pin l4 and intoregistry with the pin l5 while the slot 32 will register with the pin Mto properly position the spring in place in the receptacle. However, thespring may be first put in place, as illustrated in Fig. 4, and then thereceptacle 2 secured to the bottom plate. If it is desired that thescrews Ill be included in this assembly, they are placed in theapertures provided for them in the bottom plate 8 and covered with alight transparent surface of Cellophane or other material to hold themin place in the bottom plate 8. The device in this condition may bepermanently secured to the vehicle or other article by simply drillingseveral holes in the supporting member 9 and then placing the assembleddevice on the support with the screws I0 protruding through theirrespective openings in the support. The back plate I2 is then placedbehind the support and the screws I0 are operated by a screw driverthrough the opening Tin the receptacle and the central opening 3| of thespring member 30 to secure the device to the support.

To insert the initial plate in the device, the innermost or leading endis placed in the slot. I1 and moved edgewise toward the center of thereceptacle. Even though the .top of the locking pin l4 extends above theslot H, the identification plate 20, due to its resiliency, may beguided between the topsurface of the tag and the inner surface of thetop wall 6 of the receptacle, as illustrated in Fig. 6. As heretoforedescribed, due to the fact that the leading locking aperture 22 of thetag 20 is of a smaller diameter than the pin I 4, the aperture 22 may bepassed over the pin l4 without registering therewith and will registerwith the locking pin l5.

The resiliently yieldable portions or downwardly extending fingers 23and 24 carried by the identification plate will be forced or cammed outof locking position by the rigid locking pins I4 and I5 during theinsertion of the plate to allow the plate to be fully inserted'in thereceptacle. When the identification plate is fully inserted into thereceptacle, the resiliently yieldable por- 'tions 23 and 24fwill returnto their normal or locking position inwardly of the receptacle beyondthe lockingpins l4 and I5 to prevent removal of the platefrom thereceptacle. When the tag is fully inserted in the device, the downwardlyextending fingers of the devicewill engage the pins 4 and i5,respectively, while the openings 25 and 26 will be engaged by'thefingers 21 on the inner surface of the receptac1e.2 to prevent lateralinserted plate passes the pin M, it will contact the lastfullyinserted'plate and force it downwardly a sufficient distance against thetension of the spring 30 to allow the newly inserted plate to passbetween it and the inner surface of the window wall of the receptacle 2.When the newly inserted plate-is fully inserted in the receptacle, itwill contact the plate previously inserted and force it downwardlyagainstlthe tension of the spring andvcause thejlocking apertures 2i and22 of the plates 20 to engage the rigid locking pins I4 and I5,respectively. It will be noted that once the plate is fully inserted inthe device, removal without noticeable damage to either the plate or thereceptacle is prevented.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the plates will beautomatically permanently locked within the receptacle without the useof special devices or tools. The present invention may be cheaplymanufactured and may be easily and conveniently applied to a vehicle orother article to be identified in such a manner as to facilitate a quickinspection of the indicia on the last plate inserted for an accuratecheck of the identification of that vehicle or other article.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. An identification device comprising a plate having identificationindicia on one face thereof and having a locking aperture therein, areceptacle for enclosing said plate and having an inspection window inone wall, said receptacle having another wall with a slot therein forpermitting insertion of said plate edgewise into the receptacle andgenerally parallel to the window with the indicia exposed toward thewindow, a rigid element within said receptacle and having a portionextending across the path of entry of the plate, said elementterminating in spaced relation from the inner surface of the window wallan amount at least equal to the thickness of the plate, resilientlyyieldable means carried by the plate and extending from the face thereofopposite from that face which bears the indicia, and being arranged,when in normal condition, to lie in the path of the element and to bedisplaced thereby during insertion of the plate for permitting relativepassage of the said means and element during said insertion, and toreturn to a position across the path of entry of the plate after passageof said means inwardly of the receptacle beyond the element, saidelement being receivable in the locking aperture in said plate when theplate lies wholly within the receptacle, and means yieldably resistingmovement of the inserted plate away from the plane of the window whilethe element is in the aperture for permitting introduction of anotheridentification plate through said slot'in overlying relation to thefirst plate. l

2. An identification device comprising a plate having identificationindicia on one face thereof and'having locking apertures therein ad- Ijacent'the ends, one of said apertures being of different size than theother, a receptacle for enclosing said plate and having an inspectionwindow in one wall, said receptacle having another wall with a slottherein for permitting insertion of said plate edgewise into thereceptacle and generally parallel to the window with the indicia exposedtoward the window, locking means including a pair of different sizelocking pins within said receptacle and arranged to be received in andto fit the locking apertures in said plate, respectively, when the platelies wholly within the receptacle, the larger pin being nearer to theslot than the smaller pin, and means yieldably. resisting movement ofthe inserted plate away from the plane of the window while the pins arein the apertures for permitting introduction of a succeeding platemember through. said slot, 1

3. An identification device comprising a plate having identificationindicia on one face thereof and having locking apertures therein, a,receptacle for enclosing said plate and having aninspectionwindow in onewall, said receptacle having another wall with a slot therein forpermitting insertion of said plate edgewise into the receptacle andgenerally parallel to the window with the indicia exposed toward thewindow, looking means including a plurality of different sized lockingpins arranged in the receptacle for locking engagement with the apertureof said plate when the plate is fully inserted and operative to locksaid plate in the receptacle, and additional means integral with the topinner wall of the receptacle having a portion extending across the pathof entry of the plate, said additional means terminating below thesurface of the plate which is exposed toward the inspection windowarranged to cooperate with the plate when it is fully inserted forconstraining the plate from movement toward the slot.

4. An identification device comprising a resilient plate havingidentification indicia on one face thereof and having locking aperturestherein, a receptacle for enclosing said plate and having an inspectionwindow in one wall, said receptacle having another wall with a slot ofsubstantially the same dimension as the thickness and width of the saidplate therein for permitting insertion of said plate into the receptacleand generally parallel to the window with the indicia exposed toward thewindow, locking elements including a pair of different sized pinsarranged in the receptacle for engagement with the aperture when theplate is fully inserted and operative to lock said plate permanently inthe receptacle, the end of each locking element being in spaced relationto the inner surface of the said window wall an amount less than thedistance between the said window Wall and the said slot, means in therecepon one face thereof and having locking apertures therein adjacentthe ends, said apertures being of different contour, a receptacle forenclosing and retaining said plate members and having an inspectionwindow in one wall, said receptacle having another wall with a slottherein for permitting insertion of said plate members individually andedgewise into the receptacle generally parallel to the window with itsindicia exposed toward the window, locking means including a pair oflocking pins of different cross sectional contour within the saidreceptacle and arranged to be received in the locking apertures in saidplates, respectively, when the plate lies wholly within the receptacle,the aperture nearest the leading edge of said plate member being of suchcontour as to prevent entry therein of the looking pin nearest the slotin the receptacle while permitting entry of the other locking pin whenthe plate lies wholly within the receptacle, means for yieldablyresisting movement of the inserted plate members away from the plane ofthe window while the locking pins are in the apertures of the platemembers for permitting introduction of a succeeding plate member intothe receptacle.

6. An identification device comprising a group of plates, each platehaving identification indicia on one face thereof and having lockingapertures therein adjacent the ends, said apertures being out ofalignment, endwise of the plate, a receptacle for enclosing andretaining said plate members and having an inspection window in onewall, said receptacle having another wall with a slot therein forpermitting insertion of said plate members individually and endwise intothe receptacle generally parallel to the window with its indicia exposedtoward the window, a plurality of locking members within the saidreceptacle and arranged out of alignment with each other endwise of thereceptacle so as to be received in the locking apertures in said plates,respectively, when the plate lies wholly within the receptacle, wherebythe aperture nearest the leading edge of said plate member can pass thelocking member nearest the slot in the receptacle while preventing entryof the last-mentioned locking member thereinto, and can receive only apredetermined one of said locking members and then only when the platelies wholly within the receptacle, means afiording yieldable resistingmovement of the inserted plate members away from the plane of the windowwhile one of the locking members is in its associated aperture of theplate members for permitting introduction of a succeeding plate memberinto the receptacle.

CLYDE O. ROOSE.

